Court Rules Biden Administration Violated First Amendment on Social Media

A federal appeals court has ruled that the Biden administration likely violated the First Amendment by pressuring social media platforms to remove misleading or false content about the Covid-19 pandemic. The court partially upheld a lower court's preliminary injunction, which restricted government officials from contacting social media companies, but narrowed its impact to the White House, Surgeon General's Office, FBI, and CDC. The court found that the government had coerced platforms and significantly influenced their moderation decisions. The ruling is seen as a victory for conservatives and raises questions about the government's ability to combat false narratives on social media. The White House defended its actions and said it was reviewing the ruling.